A safari in Murchison Falls National Park, in Uganda, is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences for most travelers. Renowned the World over for the breathtaking Murchison Falls (the World’s most powerful waterfalls), from which the Protected Area was named, a true wilderness experience, and of course, the wildlife. A Murchison Falls safari is a must-do for any traveler to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.

Regardless of how many times you visit it, Murchison Falls National Park (formerly Kabalega National Park) will completely live up to and exceed every expectation you have. The wildlife, the accommodation options, the activities, the weather, the true sense of wilderness.

History and size of Murchison Falls National Park

Gazetted in 1952, Murchison Falls National Park extends over 384000 hectares, which comprises sprawling savannah grasslands, woodlands, the Victoria Nile, Budongo Forest, and the Karuma Wildlife Reserve. Originally known as Kabalega National Park, this Protected Area derived its name from the World’s most powerful waterfalls –the Murchison Falls, renowned for their powerful roar. You can enjoy views of these waterfalls and get mesmerized by how huge volumes of water force themselves into the narrow gorge measuring between 7 and 8 meters before plunging about 45 meters below.

Where is Murchison Falls National Park?

Murchison Falls National Park is located in the North-west of Uganda and is surrounded by several districts that include Kiryandongo, Buliisa, Masindi, and Nwoya. Additionally, the Protected Area sits along the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley, where the jaw-dropping Bunyoro Escarpment tumbles into a sprawling, palm-dotted savanna plains.

Murchison Falls Park’s landscape is bisected by the beautiful Victoria Nile, before creating the breathtaking Murchison Falls.

What can you see during a Murchison Safari?

The 3840-square-kilometer Murchison Falls National Park is renowned as one of Africa’s premier game-viewing safari destinations. With a sprawling expanse of diverse ecosystems, it is a shelter for a myriad of species.

Four of the Big Five and beyond

Generally, there are over 76 mammal species, 51 amphibian species, and reptiles in Murchison Falls National Park. The Big Five are some of the most sought-after species on any Uganda safari, and Murchison Falls National Park offers incredible opportunities to spot four of these iconic creatures- African elephants, Cape buffaloes, Lions, and Leopards

While four of the Big Five are undeniably the stars of the show, this Protected Area offers much more. Keep an eye out for the Rothschild giraffes, Defassa waterbucks, Common warthogs, spotted hyenas, Nile crocodiles, Oribis, hippos, Jackson’s hartebeest, Olive baboons, Uganda Kobs, bushbucks, and more.

Birdlife

With over 500 bird species, Murchison Falls National Park is one of Uganda’s Important Bird Areas with varying ecosystems- savannah grasslands, woodlands, forest, and aquatic ecosystems. These areas are natural habitats for several bird species that include African darters, African quail finch, Abyssinian ground hornbills, black-headed gonoleks, Egyptian goose, giant kingfishers, Egyptian goose, Malachite kingfishers, red-throated bee-eaters, Northern red bishops, and many others.

The Must-do things during a Murchison safari

Game drives

Game drives are the highlight of any safari to Murchison Falls National Park. Typically scheduled for early mornings, late afternoons, and evenings when animals are most active, these adventures provide phenomenal opportunities for spotting a wide array of wildlife species. These include four of the Big Five Game, Rothschild’s giraffes, Jackson’s Hartebeests, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, Bushbucks, Topis, Spotted hyenas, and many others.

Alba Wonders Africa boasts 4X4 Safari vehicles that are built to handle rugged terrains while keeping visitors comfortable. Expect open roofs, elevated seating, and 360-degree views of animals and birds.

Some of the unmissable wildlife-filled game tracks in Murchison Falls National Park include the Buligi (7km), and the honeymoon game track, among others.

Boat cruises

Take a morning, afternoon, or evening boat ride during your Murchison safari. The commonest options are the boat cruises on the Victoria Nile until the bottom of the falls, and the best option for visitors who have plans to explore aquatic animals in Murchison. Expect to come across Nile crocodiles, hippos, elephants, and lots of resident water birds like the African fish eagles, kingfishers, Pelicans, and others.

Birding tours

Spot at least 100 of the 500 bird species across varied ecosystems, including savannahs, forests, riverine areas, wetlands, and woodlands. Some of the unmissable species include the Abyssinian ground hornbills, Egyptian ducks, the elusive shoebill storks, goliath herons, red-throated bee-eaters, giant and malachite kingfishers, and secretary birds, among others.

Chimpanzee tracking

Spend your morning or afternoon searching for chimpanzees, mankind’s closest relatives in the animal Kingdom. Done in the Kaniyo-Pabidi section of Budongo Forest, expect a rewarding 2 to 4 hours of walking and encountering many other primate and bird species. Once found, you have one hour to observe how the chimpanzees behave and also take pictures, while maintaining the minimum distance and other guidelines.

Hot air balloon tours

Murchison Falls visitors also have an opportunity to glide over the sprawling savannahs and other ecosystems at sunrise or sunset while enjoying a serene aerial experience. Reach different areas, including those that wouldn’t be reached via game drives and nature walks, while spotting lots of wildlife species along the way.

Sport fishing

Discover the different fish species in the Nile River, which include Nile Perch and others, during a catch-and-release fishing experience. You will need a valid permit issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to undertake sport fishing in Murchison Falls National Park.

Guided bush walks

Murchison Falls National Park guests also have the opportunity to take part in morning or afternoon guided nature walks. Done with armed Ranger guides to ensure safety, these walks will focus on the things that cannot usually be able to be seen from the safari vehicle.

Guided walks make it possible to cover areas more intensely and experience Mother Nature using all of your senses.

Village Tours

A safari to Murchison Falls National Park isn’t just about animals and birds, but rather an opportunity to discover the cultures and traditions of the local people through guided village tours and other interactive experiences.

When is the best time to go for a Murchison safari?

Murchison Falls National Park is an interesting place, as there isn’t a bad time to go. Each season provides an incredible experience and different advantages and disadvantages.

June to September and December to February

Uganda’s dry months are considered a great time to visit Murchison Falls National Park. This is by far the driest time of the year, which means the vegetation and the bush are sparser, and therefore it is easier to spot wildlife. The reduced rainfall levels during these months mean most water sources (Rivers and waterholes) are low or even dry. For this reason, the few that have water are likely to have more wildlife around them.

March to May and October to early December

This is Uganda’s wet season, which marks the start of the rains; hence, the bush will be very green and quite thick. For this reason, it is harder to spot wildlife. However, the wet season is also a wonderful time to see baby animals and newborns.

Deciding Where to Stay in/around Murchison Falls National Park

Generally, there are several accommodation types to choose from- UWA-owned and run Rest camps within the National Park, Private Lodges within and outside the Protected Area, and Hotels located near the entry gates (or further afield). These options include Sambiya River Lodge, Fort Murchison, Nile Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge, Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Heritage Safari Lodge, Entikko Safari Lodge, Red Chili Rest Camp, Boomu Women’s Group Bandas, and Budongo Eco Lodge.

How to get to Murchison Falls National Park for your safari

Choosing the best option for getting to Murchison Falls National Park depends on where you are coming from, how long you are spending in Murchison, and, of course, your budget.

The most costly and convenient way is to fly into Murchison Falls National Park. Depending on where your accommodation is within or outside the Protected Area, it is likely that one of the three main airstrips will work for you. These are Chobe, Bugungu, and Pakuba airstrips.

The main air route between these Murchison airstrips is from Entebbe. However, you can also reach them from any of the airstrips in the country (Kasese, Kihihi, and others). These flights usually last one hour, and Aerolink is the main operator.

The less expensive (and slower way is to drive from Kampala or Entebbe. The drive is 6-7 hours, and access is through one of the Park gates- Kichumbanyobo gate, Chobe, Bugungu gate, Wankwar, and Mubako gates.